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More information to come… If you have specific questions or would like to inquire about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Marisa Paladino: 516.746.0350 x4364 or mpaladino@familyandchildrens.org

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Family Engagement Events

In addition to daytime and evening Parent Support Groups, Family Center (Nassau) offered two different family engagement events these past few months. Family Center Nassau collaborated with North Shore Child and Family Guidance Center and Hispanic Counseling Center to provide the families an evening of fun bowling for the entire family at Garden City Lanes. This event was funded in part by OMH and all 3 agencies worked together.

Family Center Nassau also joined FCA’s Children’s Care Coordination to invite families to Dave and Busters. The families bowled, played games and enjoyed a buffet dinner together. The families were also given the opportunity to network with each other.

Connection

Two children, one from Family Center Nassau and one from FCA’s Home-based community services (HCBS) program became friendly at the Bowling Engagement Event and exchanged their information with their parents’ permission. One of the moms shared that the boys were getting together after Skyping each other daily. She said that her son was so happy because he does not have friends and was able to make one.

At the family engagement event it was noted that two boys were getting along well. They were different ages and attended different schools. The boys interacted well and enjoyed playing with each other throughout the event. This allowed the Respite Supervisor to peer them up in Family Center Nassau’s Respite program.

Family Center (Suffolk) held a family engagement event which was dubbed Family Movie Day. Families were able to relax and enjoy a movie together.

Workshops

Family Center Suffolk offered a workshop on self-care where a Family Peer Advocate taught parents how to crotchet as a way of reducing stress.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mineola, New York, February 9th, 2018 – A projected 600 overdose fatalities related to opioids occurred on Long Island in 2017, as reported by Newsday, and advocacy groups are preparing to have their voices heard at the State level on February 13th, 2018. More than 50 members of the Long Island recovery community, including individuals and family members who have lost a loved one to addiction along with key players in the fight against the opioid epidemic, will unite in Albany, NY to meet with a host of elected officials. The group will spend the day educating legislators about the effectiveness of prevention, treatment and recovery programs as well as the importance of banning the growing and fraudulent practice of patient brokers. Patient brokers serve as intermediaries to addiction treatment centers across the country and profit from recruiting individuals deceptively with false promises of receiving effective treatment.

The advocacy group is comprised of individuals who have either lost a loved one to an overdose or are in recovery themselves along with the full support of Long Island-based nonprofit organizations Families In Support of Treatment (F.I.S.T.), Family & Children’s Association (FCA), Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (LICADD) and Drug Free Long Island (DFLI).

Long Island resident, Teri Kroll, mother of Tim Kroll, who suffered a fatal overdose several years ago, said, “I have been an advocate for change in policy and laws for substance use disorder treatment since January 2010, four months after our son Timothy passed away after a three year struggle of being irresponsibly introduced to prescriptions opiates by an unscrupulous ‘Doctor’.” Kroll continued, “As a parent who lost a child to this disease and knowing that my role as Timothy’s mother continues, I have travelled to Albany to ask for change and I know with certainty that these efforts have not gone unnoticed. Laws have been passed to help many families in New York get through the crisis this disease causes. Though sometimes not easy to speak about the tragic loss of my son, I know that his wish of making a difference is happening through so many of us that have made this decision to speak up and support these necessary changes.”

Ira Costell, Advisory Committee Member, FIST, shared, “This Monday marks the 11th Anniversary of the passing of my nephew, David Costell, at the age of 22 from a heroin overdose. My family was devastated by the loss of this caring, compassionate young man. But the sad reality is this devastation has been repeated tens of thousands of times in this State as the crisis has only gotten worse since. I raise my voice to demand our Elected Officials here in Albany redouble their efforts to support and fund services for recovery to reaffirm life and eliminate the heartache of loss.”

Advocates attended a F.I.S.T. Advocacy Training at THRIVE Recovery Center which included a presentation by FCA’s President/CEO Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds, informing advocates how to maximize the effectiveness of the group’s ability to increase their outreach on February 13th.

FCA President/CEO Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds, said, “The ability to mobilize an energetic and resilient Long Island-based group of individuals to our State’s capital, all of whom have experienced this epidemic first hand, whether themselves or through a love one, is the most important tool Long Island has to speak to our elected officials and share our experience, knowledge and expertise to end this epidemic once and for all.”

Anthony Rizzuto, Executive Director & Founder of F.I.S.T. shared, “Having provided family services to thousands of those impacted by a loved one’s addiction over the last five years and seeing the devastation caused, it is clear we must do better. Family members that are impacted by a loved one’s addiction often feel that they don’t have a voice or that their voice isn’t being heard.” Rizzuto continued, “At F.I.S.T. we are determined to make sure family member’s voices matter. Their voice has become a ROAR over the last 5 years and they plan to share the realities of addiction as well as what they want to see happen with our elected officials!

The tireless work and energy invested by the group’s organizers during the lead up to the advocacy day resulted in securing meetings with more than half of Long Island’s elected officials and scheduling a press conference in Albany’s Legislative Office Building.

The press conference will be held at the Legislative Office Building from 2 PM to 3 PM.

Press Conference

Legislative Office Building

Legislative Correspondents’ Association Press Room 130

198 State St, Albany, NY 12210

February 13th, 2018, 2 PM – 3 PM

Families In Support of Treatment (F.I.S.T.)

Families in Support of Treatment (F.I.S.T) is a non-profit corporation created to help families who have loved ones that are struggling with the disease of addiction. Addiction causes devastation to individuals as well at their families. Often family members don’t know where to turn for help. Help is available and F.I.S.T was developed to help family members find and access help for themselves and their loved ones.

Family and Children’s Association (FCA)

Family & Children’s Association is a not-for-profit agency helping nearly 25,000 of our neighbors each year. For more than 130 years, the organization has worked to protect and strengthen vulnerable children, seniors, families and communities on Long Island.

FCA has been nationally recognized as a model of excellence, fiscally sound, well-managed and possessing an impeccable reputation in providing community-based social services. The agency embraces more than 200 individual volunteers, corporate groups, community groups and sponsors who join together to be part of something bigger than them.

Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (LICADD)

LICADD’s mission is to address the addictive climate of our times by providing initial attention and referral services to individuals, families, and children, through intervention, education and professional guidance to overcome the ravages of alcohol and other drug-related problems.

Drug Free Long Island (DFLI)

Drug Free Long Island’s mission is to advance through public awareness, education, empowerment and advocacy the transformation of Long Island into DRUG FREE environments for the general safety, health and welfare of our children and all the members of our communities. Through the collaborative volunteer efforts of Board members, Volunteers and students in conjunction with local educators, law enforcement and numerous agencies, Drug Free Long Island aims to rid Long Island of heroin, other illegal drugs and drug dealers. Drug Free Long Island supports local legislators, advocating for laws that will protect our children and keep them safe.

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Family & Children’s Association is dedicated to protecting and strengthening Long Island’s most vulnerable children, seniors, families, and communities. We offer assistance to those who are experiencing social, emotional, and economic challenges.

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